Where will you be in 32 years’ time? Most of us of a certain vintage can safely say that we will be in the bosom of the Lord or spending eternity with the devil.

Former police constable Noel Maitland, now in his 30s, must surely be contemplating the question of what life will be like for him in 32 years, if he survives this long stint in the hellish conditions of Jamaica’s penal system.

The court found him guilty of murdering his girlfriend Donna-Lee Donaldson in 2022 and disposing of her body. But not everyone is convinced and perhaps their doubt has some basis.

He was convicted on purely circumstantial evidence and that raises questions about the safety of his conviction and whether he will eventually walk free upon appeal, which he is sure to file.

If he did kill her, and the court has ruled he did, the question raging in his head must be ‘was it worth it?’

What could she have done that would have provoked such an action? There was no evidence or testimony to suggest that the couple were having problems outside the normal run of a relationship. No friend, no family member, nobody gave any indication of domestic violence or serious friction between the two.

So Maitland must now pay the price but did he act alone? It is inconceivable that he alone could have killed Donna-Lee and got rid of her body. We have all heard stories of how bodies are disposed of in Jamaica but of course there has never been any evidence to support those theories.

Think about it. Maitland lived at Chelsea Apartments, a busy housing complex in New Kingston. How did he evade all the eyes and closed circuit systems to get her body from his residence to where she was disposed of? Who assisted him? Was the police investigation thorough enough?

This was an easy win for the prosecution but there was simply not enough evidence to leave no element of doubt. And that is the problem with jury trials, especially in Jamaica. Most people find it difficult to comprehend the cardinal rule of guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

There is a desperate problem finding good quality jurors in Jamaica. Some matters are just too complex for the ordinary peer to appreciate properly. A judge sitting alone can balance evidence against the law and make learned decisions. I agree with the Chief Justice Bryan Sykes that we should be moving towards judge only trials.

The case will be properly ventilated at appeal and like VYbz Kartel, Maitland could walk free. What is troubling is that if he was assisted in the murder and disposition of the body, there are serious criminals who are walking free who may be complicit in other murders.

I have long held the belief that there are serial killers walking around in this country. Our murder rate over the years strongly support this theory.

So while Maitland’s conviction and sentencing are being celebrated there is a bigger  picture that should not be missed.

Spare a thought for  Donna-Lee’s family because no amount of time in prison for Maitland will make them sleep any easier at night.